There
will a celebration of life on Sunday, September 10 at the Plainfield
Congregational Church at 2:30 pm

David E. Filkins, Sr., 78, of Plainfield, MA passed away
peacefully at his home on August 6.

David graduated from Northampton High School and Westfield
State College. He and his wife Jane raised their family in South Deerfield,
where he began his career as a math teacher, football coach and guidance
counselor at Frontier Regional School.
He served on the planning committee for the construction of Franklin
County Technical School where he later was Coordinator of Student Services and Superintendent. Upon retirement from FCTS, he served as
interim superintendent for Mohawk Trail Regional School, Smith Vocational School
and Franklin County Technical School. He continued to keep his finger on the
pulse of education in Massachusetts and responded to many emails and phone
calls, providing his insight to local decision makers.

In other areas of community service, David served on the
board of directors of United Bank and on the town of Plainfield Finance
Committee. He enjoyed visiting with friends, family and health care providers,
ever the teacher and guidance counselor, reflecting, reaffirming, and
teaching.

David, son of Winona Gilbert Filkins and E. E. “Phil”
Filkins, was born December 15, 1938 in Norwich, CT. He was predeceased by his
wife, Jane Beals Filkins in 2015, his sister Jacquelyn Bartlett, and his
brother Bruce Filkins. He leaves his
sisters Elaine Cooper and husband Jack of Whately, MA and Shireen Dietering and
husband David of South Jordan, UT. He
also leaves his children, Sally Rivard and husband William of Jay, VT, David
Filkins, Jr. and wife Kathy of Warren, MA and Laura Filkins and husband Sean
Brown of Lexington, MA, 4 grandchildren and 2 great granddaughters, nieces,
nephews and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hampshire
and Franklin County
Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson, 168 Industrial
Drive, Northampton or Plainfield Volunteer Firefighters Association who
provided wonderful care to him in the last years of his life.

There will a celebration of life on Sunday, September 10 at
the Plainfield Congregational Church at 2:30 pm.